Pivoted outer jaw wrench



Fb., 2%, w50 c.' H. ORTMAN PIVOTED OUTER JAW WRENCH Filed Jan. lO, 1946 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to clamping devices of the type wherein a movable jaw is adjusted toward and from a xed jaw carried by a base and is retained in any desired clamping relation with respect to the fixed jaw by means of a locking device such as a pawl, resiliently mounted on the base and having (when a pawl is used for such device) one or more teeth adapted to engage spaced elements carried by an extension of the movable jaw by which the latter is supported by the said base for movement toward and from the fixed jaw.

In its embodiment shown herein, the clamping device appears as a type of wrench known to the trade as a pipe wrench, and the terms byl which various parts of my embodiment are desigl nated are the terms customarily employed vin connection with such Wrenches but without any1 intention of excluding from the scope of my invention any other embodiments of the same.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to provide a construction of clamping device of the character shown and described whereby the movable jaw may be conveniently moved toward and from the fixed jaw; also to provide novel and efcient means whereby a final clamping movement may be imparted to the movable jaw where the spacing of the ratchet teeth is such, in a given case, as to prevent a tight gripping action to be obtained; also to provide means normally tending to produce a narrower space between the outer ends of the jaws than between the inner ends thereof whereby a firm gripping action may be exerted upon an object by the outer ends of the said jaws as well as by the inner ends of the same.

Further and more limited objects of my invention will be realized in and through the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be set forth in the specification hereafter and as are shown in the drawings, wherein Fig.. 1

represents a side sectional elevational vview of a wrench embodying my invention, the handle being broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the handle and of the operating parts of the wrench attached thereto; Fig. 3 a bottom plan view; Fig. 4 a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 an elevational View of the cam showing the positions of the shoulder and the low portion of the cam; and Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the control cam.

Describing the various parts herein by reference characters, I Il denotes a base, shown spe cifically as the handle of a wrench. which has@ 6d fixed jawll, preferably formed therewith. Thel front end of the base or handle is provided'with r a passageway I2 extending through the jaw II proper.

fixed jaw and which provide a space for thereception of the shank I5 which carries at its forward end, and preferably formedv therewith, av The jaws II and I6 are pro-1 movable jaw I6. vided with oppositely extending ratchet-like gripping teeth IIa4 and Ilia, respectively, and the` outer ends of the teeth Ita lie within a rearwardly concave surface. I 'I denotes a sleeve which is provided with a guideway therethrough adapted to register with the passageway I2 and in which the shank I5 is slidably mounted. This sleeve is provided with a downwardly extending front extension I8 and with a downwardly extending rear extension i9, the said extensions providing there:-

between a space 2U, within the upper portion of which there project spaced engageable elements-- I 5a, shown as ratchet teeth and carried by the versely of the shaft and adapted to engage the` `vertical wall I8a at the rear of the forward ex' tension I8 of the sleeve Il,v the diameter of the cam being such as to enable it to clear the ratchet teeth. The rear operating portion of the cam is shown as consisting generally of two cooperating sections. The first section is a short section 24 the surface of which is substantially parallel with the forward base 23 of the cam and which constitutes the low portion of the rear surface of the cam, which section is the one nearest to said Vforward base. The second section 25 has a spiral operating surface-and a shoulder 26 extends from the "higl'r end of the surface of the cam to the low surface of the cam. The cam is also provided with a locking device 21 for holding the yteeth of the pawl (to be described) in engagement with the ratchet teeth when the cam is rotated to a position to enable the nose of thepawl to engage the surface 25 of the cam.` Thev exterior of this locking device is cylindrical throughout the major portionrthereof, the ends A slot I3 is formed between the side' `members I4 which extend rearwardly from the of the cylindrical portion being connected by a plane portion 21a which, except at its junction with the cylindrical surface, is nearer to the axis of rotation than is the cylindrical surface. This plane surface is substantially co-extensive in angular extent with the section 24 of the cam. The cam as shown and described herein is substantially the same as that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 585,460, led March 29, 1945.

28 denotes a locking element shown as a pawl provided with a plurality of teeth 28a adapted to mesh with the ratchet teeth, The pawl is provided with a front or nose 2Bb which-is adaptedA to be engaged by the spiral operatingl surface 2,'5A of the cam and is also provided with a tail 29 extending between the top ofja transverse'wall 30 in the rear sleeve extension I9, with a running clearance between the tail of the pawl and the ratchet teeth I5a. The pawl is alsoI provided with an arm3I extending downwardly therefrom and'` provided with an opening forxthe receptionof the shaft 2 I., the arm 3| being extendedvand' -rearwardly'crurved to provide a gripping.v end portion 31a. 32'fdenotes a vcoil-spring which is mounted' ont the shaft 2 I between the pawl arm'l'andfthe sleevefextension I9', whereby the pawlis Vresil' iently` and rockably mountedr upon.y the shaft :andv the rear sleeve extension.

V.SBd'enotes ai narrow stop@ wall extending from and connecting the bottomsof the side members I4'- and adapted to be engaged by: the lower: sur.'-y face ofi the shank Iwhen' thev movablej'awiisrin its extreme forward positionand the rearl end" off the shank is depressed. The movement :of *thej-'awf andl shank in` such forward' direction. is anr rested 4 by the .engagementof` a :stu-dt. I5?, Vser-ving as a thumb `pieeeand' connectedtofthef'near endf ofthe `shank with a narrow` stop .wallSAiexa tending from and connecting the'upper ends-of the side mem-bers I4. The rear portionotthetop of' the sleeve IT is provided with'a slotff35, in front of a transversely extending wall Swat-.the rear end' ofV the sleeve top, for the slid'able anchorage ofthe rear end of a flat-spring/ST, the front end of' which'is secured to the top of the fixed jaw II, as by means oa-screw 38. 'This spring-is upwardly curved whereby it-norrnallly lifts therear end of the sleeve IP'I"` andthe shank I'l within said-sleeve untiltherear end-of they r top ofthe sleeve engages the stopwalll34'. Wl-ien" the vparts are in this position, thez grippingrpor'-l tion |16a ofthe movable jaw vIilwill be nearly parallel ywith the-grippingl portion IIa of thexed" jawk I I, with the lower end ofthe former gripping surface beingl inclined toward the f lower endfof the latterI gripping surface.

vWith the parts co-nstructedvand arranged as described', and assuming thatl it is desired to apply the jaws to an object to be grasped or clamped thereby, the movable jaw can'be moved'beyondi the xed jaw a suiiicient distance-to enable the object to be received between the said jaws. lThis movement can beeifected when the lower por-v tion of the'cam is adjacentA to the nose ofthe pawl, which will enable the teeth of` thefpa-wlto be disengaged' from the lratchet teeth I5a lby op-v erating the finger grip3I'; 'lhefmovable jaw can then be retracted towardthe xed #jawby' pulling' rearwardly upon-the stud I5?. .Assuming that the object is not tightly clampedbetweenlfthe two jaws and' thatthedistance ywhich the movable jaw mustv befmoved in order to. insurefsuchv clam-ping is less than the distance'between adjacentratchet teeth on the shank I5, theopera- *tor may then impart this additional movement to the movable jaw by rotating the cam so that the spiral operating surface thereof engages the nose of the resiliently mounted pawl, which will result in a thrust being imparted in a rearward direction to the movable jaw by the engagement of the forward base 23 of the cam with the rear of the front sleeve extension I8, the spring 32 being compressedby this action between the arm 3I of the pawland the'rear extension I9 of the sleeve I'I'. The movable jaw may be retracted as far as desired toward the fixed jaw by means of the Vfinger-grip stud I5c. The sleeve, meanwhile, is heldiagainst forward movement during the forward movement of the shank and movable jaw by engagement ofthe upper front end I'Ic thereof Y`with-,therearwally I-Ic of the top of the xed jaw and against rearward movement during the rearward movement of the said shank and jaw by engagement of the rear sleeve extension I9 with the wal'lr'there; being a'` sufficient: longitudinal distance betweenfthese walls to permitfof` the rockingmovement of the sleeve.v due toV thev noch.- ing-movement -of the shank I5.

When it is desired to release-thexjaws: from a pipe or otherz'object' grasped therebetween', the operator can pressdownwardly therear'of the shanktl, whichwillrock the jaw i8. upwardlyY and therebyprovide: clearance. between the jaws which willpermit suchr releasing movement;

lioriconveniencey of description, the parts of theA specific form of clamping device (wrench)A shown herein'are assumed to be in the positions which they occupy in Figs. 1 and 4, and the terms top l bottomf front, rear and side have' been employedy hereiny and will also be employed'inA certain-oi" the claims hereinafter in designating thepositions ofthe parts, butwithoutl any: in'- i a-nd provided with sidewalls extending longitudinallythereof away from' said jaw andproviding'a` space therebetween, a sleeve memberV mountedY in saidspace and having a passageway therethrough, av shank extending rthrough saidsleeve memberfand provided with a jaw and having ratchet teeth thereon, said sleevemember having longitudinally spaced extensionsiprojecting beyond the ratchet teeth on said shank, a shaftsupportedby said extensions substantially parallel with and spaced from said ratchet teeth, a rotaryV cam on said shaft having an inclined operating" surface,a pawl having one or more teeth-'thereon adapted to engagev teeth on said ratchet and-hav'- ing a nose adapted to be engaged by the inclined operating surface of said cam, spring means tending'to holdv the tooth or teeth on the pawl ini engagement with the teeth 'of the ratchet, and means for disengaging the tooth or'teeth of the pawl* from' thevteeth of the ratchet when the nosel ofv the pawl isout of engagement with the operating'surface ofthe cam.

'2. A devicel ofv the character described comprising a base having a xed jaw attachedthere-r to and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with a spacetherein extending longitu dinally thereof away from said jaw, a sleeve member rockably mounted in said space and hav-A said sleevel member and' provided' with a jaw..-

extending downwardly therefrom' and having ratchet teeth on its under surface, said sleeve member having front and rear downward extensions projecting beyond the ratchet teeth on said shank, a shaft supported by said extensions substantially parallel with and spaced from said ratchet teeth, a pawl having one or more teeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on said ratchet, said pawl having an arm extending therefrom and provided with an opening for the passage of the shaft therethrough, a coil spring on s-aid shaft interposed between the arm of said pawl and the rear sleeve extension and tending to hold the tooth or teeth of the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet, said arm being provided with an operating extension whereby the tooth or teeth thereon may be disengaged from the ratchet teeth, and means on said shaft rotatable into and out of engagement with the lower surface of the pawl thereby tolock and unlock the tooth or teeth thereof to and from the ratchet teeth.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base having a xed jaw attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with a space therein extending longitudinally thereof away from said jaw, a sleeve member rockably mounted in said space and having a passageway therethrough, a shank in said space and extending through the passageway in said sleeve member and provided with a jaw extending downwardly therefrom and having ratchet teeth on-its under surface, said sleeve member having front and rear downward. extensions projecting beyond the ratchet teeth on said shank, a shaft supported by said extensions substantially parallel with and spaced from said ratchetfteeth, a rotary cam on said shaft having -an inclined 'operating surface at the rear thereof and a front bearing portion adapted to bear against the rear of the front extension of said sleeve member, a pawl having one or more teeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on said ratchet and having a nose adapted to be engaged by the inclined operating surface of said cam,. said pawl having an arm extending therefrom and provided with an opening for the passage of the shaft therethrough, a coil spring on said shaft interposed between the arm of said pawl and the rear sleeve extension and tending to hold the tooth or teeth of the pawl in` engagement with the teeth of the ratchet, said arm being provided with an operating extension whereby the tooth or teeth on said pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet teeth when the nose of the pawl is out of engagement with the operating surface of the cam and the operating surface serving to lock the tooth or teeth of the pawl in engagement with teeth on the ratchet.

4. A device of the character described comprising a base having a fixed jaw attached thereto and provided with a passageway in the jaw-carrying portion thereof merging with a vertically extending slot provided between opposed side portions of the base, a sleeve member located within the slot and having a passageway adapted to register with the former passageway, said sleeve member having front and rear extensions proj ecting downwardly beyond the bottom of the slot, a shank slidably mounted in said passageways and provided with ratchet teeth on its lower surface and having a jaw at the front end thereof, a shaft mounted in said front and rear extensions of the sleeve member below and substantially parallel with the ratchet teeth on said shank, a pawl hav- 6. ing a tooth or teeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on the ratchet and provided with an arm having an aperture therethrough through which the shaft extends, a coil spring interposed between the rear surface of said arm and the front surface of the rear sleeve extension, a cam mounted for rotation on said shaft in front of the arm of said pawl and having an inclined operating surface adapted to engage the front or toe of the pawl thereby to hold the tooth or teeth of the same in engagement with the teeth on the ratchet and also having a front bearing portion adapted to engage the rear of the front sleeve extension when the inclined operating surface of the cam is in engagement with the toe of the pawl.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base having a xed jaw attached thereto and provided with a passageway in the jawcarrying portion thereof merging with a vertically extending slot provided between opposed side portions of the'base, a sleeve member located within the slot and having a passageway adapted to register with the former passageway, said sleeve member having front and rear extensions projecting beyond the bottom of the slot, a shank slidably mounted in said passageways and provided with ratchet teeth on its lower surface and having a jaw at the front end thereof, a shaft mounted in said front and rear extensions of the sleeve member below and substantially parallel with the ratchet teeth on said shank, a pawl having a tooth or teeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on the ratchet and provided with an arm having an aperture therethrough through which the shaft extends, a coil spring interposed be` tween the rear surface of said arm and the front surface of the rear sleeve extension, a cam mounted for rotation on said shaft in front of the arm of said pawl and having an inclined operating surface adapted to engage the front or toe of the pawl thereby to hold the tooth or teeth of the same in engagement with the teeth on the ratchet and also having a front bearing portion adapted to engage the rear of the front sleeve extension when the inclined operating surface of the cam is in engagement with the toe of the pawl, and spring means connected at one end to a top portion of the base and having its opposite end connected with the sleeve member.

6. In the device set forth in claim 5, the sleeve member being provided adjacent to the rear and upper end thereof with an anchorage and the spring means comprising a flat spring connected at one end to said anchorage and at its opposite end to an anchorage on the base in front of the former anchorage, there being a sliding connection between one of said anchorages and the end of the spring which cooperates therewith.

7. A device of the character described comprising a base having a fixed jaw attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with a space therein extending longitudinally thereof away from said jaw, a sleeve member rockably mounted in said space and having a passageway therethrough, a shank in said space and extending through the passageway in said sleeve member and provided with a jaw extending downwardly therefrom and having ratchet teeth on its under side, said sleeve member having front and rear downward extensions projecting beyond thel ratchet teeth on said shank, a shaft supported by said extension substantially parallel with and spaced from and below said ratchet teeth, a pawl having one or more teeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on said ratchetz'andhaving ani arnrextendingtherefrom and'provided with an opening for the passage of the shafttherethrough, a coil spring on said shaft interposed between the arm of said pawl andthe rear sleeve extension and tending to holdI the tooth or teeth of the pawl in engagement with-*the'teeth ofthe ratchet, the arm of the pawl beingA provided with a fingergrippingl extension andthe rear'ofthe upper portion ofk the shank having a. projection adapted to bel grasped by the thumb' of the operator.

8. A device of the character described cornprising a base having va Xed' jaw attached thereto and provided with, a, passageway in the jawcarryingV portion thereof merging with a vertically extendingY slot provided. betweenl opposed side portions ofthe base, a sleeve member located within the slot and having a passageway adapted to register with the former passageway, said sleeve member having front andl rear extensions projecting downwardly therefrom, a shank slidably mounted in saidpassageways and provided with ratchet teeth on its vlower surface and having a jaw at the front thereof, a shaft mounted in said front and rear extensions of the sleeve member below and substantially parallel with the ratchet teeth: on said shank, a pawl having a tooth orteeth thereon adapted to engage teeth on the ratchet and'provided with an arm having an aperturetherethrough through which the shaft extends, a coil spring interposed between the rear surface of said arm and the front surface of the rear sleeve extension, and spring means connected' at one end to the base and having` its opposite end operativelyA connected with' the rear portioniof the sleevemembentherei- 8f byto normally holdthezirear'portion. of thevsleeve member elevated;

9. In the device set forth in claim 8, the arm of the pawl being provided with a nger gripping projection and the rear of the upper portion of` the shank. havinga projection adapted tobelgraspedby the thumb of the operator.

10. In. the device set forth inclaim 8, there being a projection, carried by the upper portion. of one of the side wallsv which define the slot, for engaging they rear upper portion of the sleeve member to limit the upwardmovement thereof by the springLand'therebeing a stop carried by the lower portion of one of said side walls and adapted to be,- engaged by the lower portion of the shank, thereby to limit the downward rocking movement of` the rear portion of said sleeve. member when said rear portion is depressed against thel action of said spring.

CHARLES H. ORTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Baumanet.al... Apr. .23, 1935 

